Lori Cullen, Terry Uyarak, Fergus Hambleton, Melanie Peterson, Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon, Sorry Ghost, Flara K

Fri Aug 28 2020
Lori Cullen

This week highlighting the Flemingdon Community Food Bank 10 Gateway Blvd Toronto.
Hours Mon-Fri-10 am-1.30 pm. 416) 422-4322

Stepping out with a new single from the always adventurous and highly accomplished Lori Cullen. Born in the crucible of fear and confusion that is CoVid 19, Cullen channelled her own dire misgiving into a heart rending take on Joni Mitchell’s ‘Both Sides Now’. Yeah, we’ve heard it covered in all sorts of ways but you ain’t never heard it done like this. So let’s hear from the lady herself.

June 2020

I don’t feel well.
Everything has changed too fast.

All of my paid work is gone.
I have to teach my child and I am failing.
I have no more time to myself.
I’m worried about money.
I’m worried about everything and everybody.
Grocery shopping feels like going to battle.
I have to do something to remind me of who I am, to give me hope and to pull myself out of the mud.

Fergus Hambleton – Where Do We Go From Here?

Fri Jul 31, 2020

Cover Photo Credit: Laura Proctor LPPhotographs

If you have any knowledge of the Canadian music scene, then the name Fergus Hambleton is one you will know. If you don’t know the name Fergus Hambleton then you should. Fergus Hambleton, a versatile singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist from Toronto, Canada has been prominent in the folk, pop and reggae fields for many decades. He was a member of many Toronto bands in the 60s including A Passing Fancy, a popular Yorkville group, as well as being signed to Capitol Records Canada and releasing two folk-rock albums, "All The Right Noises" and "Town Of Fergus".

BTW--Bif Naked, Aloe Blacc, Orchid Ensemble, Yasi, Natalie MacMaster, Gail Bowen, Adam Ndaro Solomon, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Tanya Tagaq, Fergus Hambleton

Fri Feb 21 2020
Bif Naked

Multi-Gold and Platinum-selling Canadian rock star, author, songwriter, manager, producer, human and animal rights activist Bif Naked is packing the pain in her new single, “JIM” — available now!

“This is a song about loss, really,” she shares. “It’s the quintessential story of discovering a betrayal, and “JIM” is that villain. “It’s totally about pain, and facing it head-on. It’s about that disillusionment we all feel when someone turns into an imposter.”

Accompanying the release is “JIM”s official video which reveals Canada’s ‘Princess of Everything’ in her rightful throne, reigning rock supreme and as strong as ever. The track lands ahead of her forthcoming album, Champion— her eleventh studio release.

I’m still fighting, still swinging as a legacy artist, an O.G. At this stage of the game- I am a Champion” Bif says. “I have never allowed myself to be limited, and the direction of this new album was from experimenting and being fearless. I’m excited by it, and fiercely proud of these tracks.”

Fergus Hambleton Neighbourhoods

Fri Dec 20, 2019

Laidback local hero Fergus Hambleton has gone from playing sax to guitaring with Sattalites to singer/songwriting, all of which come together to sweet effect on this latest album.

Posited as a stroll through neighbourhoods real and imagined, Hambleton has taken that and woven strands of reggae, pop, folk and rock across its frame and filigreed with gorgeous at times medieval-sounding harmonies that brought extra texture.  Such is the enduring cool and command of his craft wielded by the man that at the end, makes this brilliant piece of music and words seems so just by chance.

The album kicks off with “Late September Song,”a catchy tune that skips along brightly, and a showcase for the talents of backing unit Wood and Water. The harmonies do it a little differently by focusing on what Hambleton is singing rather than filling in backing vocals. That the song moves along at a goodly pace gives the impression that wherever it’s going is gonna be a fun place. Which brings us to “A Good Place To Be”, where the harmonies are no less impactful for being more traditional backing vocals.

BTW-Fergus Hambleton, Sleave, Grace Cummings, Jerry Leger, Ava Lake, Raine Hamilton, David Bauhaus J, Donkey, Tony McManus/Julia Toaspern, Matters Of The Heart, Sleater-Kinney, Jessica Rhaye

Fri Nov 01 2019
Fergus Hambleton

Gonna start by getting personal in the sense that Fergus Hambleton is a personal fave of mine. It seems like he’s been weaving his way into Toronto’s musical tapestry since forever. In the '70s Hambleton hooked up with legendary Jamaican composer/trumpeter Jo Jo Bennett and a lasting friendship was formed leading to the pair becoming the foundation for acclaimed reggae collective the Sattalites.

"I was a sax player and I was living in the neighbourhood where all of the reggae stores and musicians were," says Hambleton. "I got to know people and they would ask me to come and play on this and this and that and that. I got pulled into it gradually and it was all very nice. I enjoyed that music because Jamaican music always has lots of horns in it and as a Sattalites horn player, I always appreciated that."

BTW-Brittany Howard, Roman Lewis, Danny Brown, Skydiggers, Great Lake Swimmers, Fergus Hambleton, Hotcha, Sisters, Jaymz B’s One Stop Jazz Safari

Fri Sep 27 2019
Brittany Howard Alabama Shakes

In Jaime, Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard has a contender for album of the year. Howard’s most recent offering, 13th Century Metal, “as "a roller-coaster of a spoken-word rant that's part self-help exhortation, part sermon. View Howard performing the song live with her touring band in this Danny Clinch-directed video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7YtOa7jD_c

Howard, who performed on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on September 26, has extended her North American headline tour into November. Every online ticket purchased for the U.S. fall headline dates will include a CD of the new album, Jaime.

BTW Amadou & Mariam and Blind Boys Of Alabama, Matthew Chaim, The Dollyrots, Jacques Gaines, Long Beach Dub Allstars, Habari Africa Festival, Grace Bakker, Melina Melle, Nefe, Jong SL, Shari Ulrich, Fergus Hambleton, Shake The Bellows

Fri Aug 02 2019
Amadou & Mariam

Malian musical duo and Grammy Award nominees Amadou & Mariam are teaming up with five-time Grammy Award-winning gospel group Blind Boys of Alabama for the new singles, “Bamako To Birmingham” and “Two Cultures, One Beat,” out today via Because Music. Listen to/share both tracks at https://tinyurl.com/yxs3aho7.

The cross-genre collaboration came about after conversations between the groups on opposite sides of the Atlantic. The Blind Boys kicked off the recording process by laying down two tracks in the U.S. featuring their distinctive vocals, with Amadou & Mariam adding their contributions from the studio in Mali.

The two groups are currently on a joint tour together in Europe, with upcoming performances set for Cork, Ireland; Cambridge, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Västra Götalands län, Sweden. See below for a list of tour dates.

BTW - Lenny,We Got Your Back! Jaymz Bee, Tim Bovaconti, Kim Doolittle, Don Graham, Fergus Hambleton, Hotcha!, Laura Hubert, Big Rude Jake, Look People, Danny Marks, Joanne Powell, Audra Santa, The Essentials

Fri Mar 15 2019
Look People

BTW is given over to saluting the musicians who have so graciously and generously donated their time and energies on my behalf by performing at Lenny, We Got Your Back! This benefit concert for yours truly takes place at the Horseshoe Tavern, Mar.28 with an 8PM showtime. My heartfelt thanks to everyone, and there have been many of you, who have had a hand in making this happen. I am humbled and grateful. Gonna be a hot show, tell your friends.

Jaymz Bee is an artist, musician, philanthropist and broadcaster who has produced countless events, over a dozen albums and been a member of several bands including The Tiki Collective, Tuk, The Royal Jelly Orchestra, Bonzai Suzuki and Look People. He's hosted and/or produced charity events for JAZZ.FM91 (over 16 years), Unison Benevolent Fund, Covenant House and the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation (amongst others).

BTW-Great Lake Swimmers, Daniel Romano, Chloe Watkinson, Souls in Rhythm, Georgian Bay, Joe Nolan, Fred Eaglesmith, Fergus Hambleton, Audra Santa

Fri Nov 23 2018
Great Lake Swimmers Photo Credit Gaêlle Legrand

Toronto unit Great Lake Swimmers are currently halfway through a nine week North American tour in support of acclaimed new album, The Waves, The Wake. The band returns home for what promises to be a very special performance on November 23 at The Danforth Music Hall with special guests Sister Ray prior to heading across the Atlantic for a 19 date European tour to close out the year.

Recorded in the 145-year-old Bishop Cronyn Memorial Church in London, Ontario and produced by Chris Stringer (Union Sound), lead singer-songwriter Tony Dekker decided to challenge himself by writing new music without any acoustic guitar, which has always been his instrumental mainstay. He further digressed from previous songwriting patterns by looking at each track individually and then tailoring the instrumentation to bring each song to life in its own distinctive way.